Barge for raising sunken vessels



May 28, 1929. E. HISLE 1,715,291

BARGE FOR RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS Filed April :50, 1928 Inventor Attorney Patented May 2 8, 1929.

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EDWARD'HISLE, OF LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY.

BARGE FOB RAISING SUNKEN VESSELS.

Application filed April 30, 1928. Serial No. 273,984.

The present invention relates to improvements in vessel raising barges and has for its principal object to provide a structure that is particularly adapted to be used 1n raising sunken submarines.

One of the important objects of the present invention is to provide a vessel raising barge which includes a pair of buoyant side members adapted to be spaced apart for the entrance of the hull of a sunken vessel, sus- V pension chains being arranged between the buoyant members below the same for engagement with and for supporting the sunken vessel, additional means being provided on the barge for raising and lowering the suspension chains.

A further object is to provide a vessel raising barge of the above mentioned character which is simple in construction, inexpensive,

strong and durable, and further well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent as the nature of the invention proceeds and when taken in connection 2 with the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the vessel raising barge embodying my invention and Figure 2 is an end elevation thereof.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates generally my improved vessel raising barge, the same comprising a pair of triangular shaped end frames, 2 and 3 respectively, and supported by these frames are the elongated buoyant side members 4; and 5 respectively, the ends of the buoyant members being secured to the respective frames in any appropriate manner. Additional guy wires 6 extend from the extremities of the buoyant side members to the respective frames. As is more clearly shown in Figure 2, these buoyant side members are spaced apart with re spect to each other for the entrance of the hull of a sunken ship. Each buoyant member includes a series of compartments denoted by the numeral 7 and the motor operated windlass 8 of any well known construction is arranged in the endmost compartment of each buoyant side member.

A pair of block and tackle units 9 are suspended from the intermediate portion of each end frame and the lifting and lowering cable 10 is operatively connected to its respective motor operated Windlass as indicated in Figure 2. v

A vessel suspension and supporting chain 11 arranged in the form of an inverted U- shaped loop is attached to the lower blocks of each pair of block and tackle units.

The sunken ship is provided with laterally extending eyes 12 that project from the sides of the shlp adjacent the adjacent ends thereof, said eyes being arranged in pairs as clearly shown in the drawing. Each chain is provided at its free end with a hook'13 and in raising the sunken vessel, a diver descends to the point where the sunken vessel rests, and attaches the hooks 13 to the respective eyes 12 as also shown very clearly in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing.

The chains 11 have their intermediate portions disposed through the looped portions of the respective pair of block and tackle units and when the power operated winches8 are operated, the suspension means will ef fect the lifting of the submarine upwardly for disposition between the buoyant side members.

The simplicity of my improved construction enables the same to be readily and easily 1 operated and can furthermore be built at a very low cost.

While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that minor changes in the size, shape and arrangement ofparts may be resorted to Without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

A barge for raising sunken vessels wherein laterally projecting eye members extend from the opposite sides of the vessel and are ar-' ranged in pairs, a pair of spaced end frames, a pair of buoyant side members supported at their ends by the frames and spaced apart lower end of each pair of blocks of the block for the entrance of the hull of a sunken vesand tackle unit, and hooks carried by the free sel, block and tackle units arranged on the ends of each of said'suspension chains for 1 barge and adapted to be lowered between the engagement With the respective pairs of eye 5 spaced buoyant side members, a substantially members.

inverted U-shaped suspension chain disposed In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. through openings provided therefor in the EDWARD HISLE. 

